What is the difference between a Conventional fire alarm system and an Addressable fire alarm system?

A.

A Conventional Fire Alarm System is typically used in smaller applications. They are usually less expensive than an addressable system but have limitations regarding reporting the location of devices. A conventional system will let you know which zone is in alarm, but not necessarily which device. A zone may contain several smoke detectors or pull stations. You may know which area of the building the smoke detector or pull station is located in but you will not know the location of the device that is in alarm.

An Addressable Fire Alarm System can be programmed to indicate the exact device that is in alarm. A display on the front of the panel will indicate the device type and location. For example, the display will indicate photoelectric smoke detector in alarm in first floor corridor outside room 201. This information can be extremely vital in larger facilities. These panels can usually be networked with other panels on a campus or within a facility.